OMB hosts additional silica meetings

Washington – OSHA’s current rule on occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica is “unacceptable” and the permissible exposure limit should be lowered, the American Thoracic Society said recently.

The New York-based respiratory disease prevention group raised concerns during a May 4 meeting hosted by the Office of Management and Budget. OSHA and Department of Labor representatives also attended, and an ATS document(.pdf file) submitted at the meeting called on OSHA to lower the current respirable PEL by 50 percent.

Another meeting took place May 5 with OMB, OSHA and several labor organizations, including the AFL-CIO.

These meetings were the latest OMB has hosted since receiving OSHA’s proposed rule for review on Feb. 14.